Lung cancer risk of the GSTM1 null genotype is enhanced in the presence ofthe GSTP1 mutated genotype in male Japanese smokers

The potential interaction of GSTM1 and GSTP1 genotypes in pulmonary carcino genesis was assessed in 382 male Japanese lung cancer patients (127 squamou s cell carcinoma, 78 small cell carcinoma, 177 adenocarcinoma) and 257 cont rols. In smokers (358 cases, 184 controls) the GSTM1 null genotype was more distributed in individuals with at least one GSTP1 mutant allele compared to those without, in lung cancer patients (69.5% vs. 53.2%) but not in cont rols (48.0% vs. 48.5%). No such relationship was detected in non-smokers (2 4 cases, 73 controls). The estimated relative risk of the GSTM1 null genoty pe for lung cancer was 2.58 (95%CI = 1.26-5.30) in smokers with the GSTP1 m utant allele while it was 1.17 (95%CI = 0.77-1.79) in those without, sugges ting that mutated GSTM1 and GSTP1 genotypes interact to potentiate the risk of lung cancers in Japanese smokers. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.